Collapsible box.



Y J. H. STANTON.

GOLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Attq'rneys Witnesses WASHINGTON D c J OHN H. STANTON, OF FRANKLIN, OHIO.

coLLAPsIBLE BOX.

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. STANTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Warren and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible boxes and is particularly designed for holding tobacco and other merchandise, the box being so constructed that the same can be readily removed from around the contents thereof so that all sides as well as the top of the contents can be inspected after which, if desired, the box canbe readjusted about the material and secured.

A further object is to provide a receptacle of this character which can be collapsed int-o a compact bundle when not in use and thus shipped at comparatively slight cost.

With the foregoing and other. objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangementof parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the box. Fig. 4 is a section on line AB Fig. 8. 7

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 and 2 designate front and back panels each of which, is provided, at its ends, with cleats 3 having beveled portions 4 projecting beyond the ends of the panels. These beveled portions are adapted to contact with similarly beveled port-ions of cleats 5 secured to and projecting beyond the ends of side panels 6. The ends of the panels 1 and 2 are adapted, when the box is set up, to project across the ends of the panels 6 and to abut against the cleats 5, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The cleat 3 at one end of the panel 1 is connected, by means of hinges 7, to the adjoining cleat 5 and the back panel 2 is connected, by hinges 8, to both of the panels 6, these hinges 8, as well as the hinges 7 being ordinary strap hinges fastened to the outer faces of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 15, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912. Serial No. 614,742.

cleats 8 and 5. The cleat 5 arranged along the front edge of one of the panels 6 has a hasp 9 connected to it and adapted to engage a keeper 10 extending from the panel 1 close to the adjacent cleat 3, this keeper being adapted to receive a locking pin 11 or the like whereby the hasp is held in engagement with the keeper. As shown in Fig. 1 two hasps are employed, one adjacent the bottom and the other adjacent the top of the panel 1 and each hasp has its own keeper. It will be apparent that, by disconnecting the hasps from their keepers, the meeting end portions of the panel 1 and one end panel 6 can be moved apart, said panel 6 can be folded back onto the back panel 2 and the panel 1 can be folded back onto the other end panel 6. The parts will thus lie flat in a very small space and can be transported at a very slight cost.

Each of the panels 1, 2 and 6 has a supporting cleat 12 along the bottom thereof for supporting a bottom'panel 13. This bottom panel is adapted to fit snugly against the inner faces of the panels 1, 2 and 6 and has oppositely disposed bottom strips 14: the lower faces of which lie flush with the lower faces of the cleats l2 and with the lower edges of the panels 1, 2 and 6. It will be seen, therefore, that when the box is resting upon a flat surface, the strips 14, cleats l2 and the lower edges of the panels 1, 2 and 6 will all contact with said surface.

Loops 15 are extended outwardly from the panel 2 near the upper edge thereof and are adapted to be engaged by the hooked ends 16 of hinge plates 17. These plates are substantially Lshaped and are secured to one edge portion of a top panel 18 and extend downwardly therefrom so as to engage the loops 15. A hasp 19 is hingedly connected to the opposite edge portion of the panel 18 and is adapted to swing into engagement with a keeper 20 extending from the panel 1. This keeper can be engaged by a suitable locking device and when so engaged will prevent the hasp from swinging therefrom and will therefore hold the top panel 18 securely in position.

As has heretofore been pointed out this box is particularly designed for holding tobacco. Heretofore a purchaser has only been able to inspect the top portion of the contents of the box, this being done by raising the lid. It has been practically impossible, however, to accurately determine the 1 grade of the material throughout the depth of the box. Vith the present device, however, the cover 18 can be removed by first disengaging the hasp 19 from keeper 20 and then swinging the hinge strips or plates 17 out of engagement with the loops 15. The hasps 9 can then be disengaged from the keepers 10 and the four panels 1, 2, 6, 6 of the box can then be swung outwardly away from the contents of the box, thus leaving the contents supported on the bottom panel 13. oughly inspected and it should be desired to again inclose them, it is merely necessary to fold the panels 1, 2, 6, 6 about the mate rial resting on the bottom panel 13, thus bringing the cleats 12 under the bottom panel 13. The hasps 9 can then be shifted into engagement with the keepers 10 and secured by means of the pins 11 or other devices provided for that purpose. The cover 18 can then be replaced and secured after After the contents have been thor-' which the box can be shipped in the same manner as an ordinary box.

What is claimed is I A box including a bottom panel, means connected thereto for supporting the edges thereof above the surface on which the panel rests, a series of hingedly connected wall panels separate from but foldable about the bottom panel, means upon the wall panels for moving under the edges of the bottom panel to connect said bottom panel to the wall panels, and means detachably connecting the end panels of the series for securing said series against unfolding.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

111 JOHN H. STANTON.

mark Witnesses:

A. F. SPOHR, M. E. EMLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

